David e



D. E. DUTROW.

VELGGIPBDB.

No. 277,246. Patented May 8,1885.A

u h lll 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID E. DUTROVV, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

vELoclPEDVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 277,246, dated May 8, 1883.

' Application alec March e, resa. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID E. DUTROW, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at IVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Movements for Conveyances; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to devices for propelling land conveyances or vehicles of any kind, and the object is to accomplish this in an easy and very comfortable and expeditious manner and at a compara-tively small expense.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement ot' parts, as will be more fully described hereinafter, and more specifically pointed ont in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Like letters indicate like parts in the di'erent gures of the drawings, in which- Fgure l represents a side elevation of a vehicle having my invention attached and with one of the rear wheels removed. Fig. 2 'is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a moditication for a tricycle. Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are modifications of the operating mechanism.

In the drawings, A represents a platform made according to the style of conveyance or vehicle for which it is intended, and of sufficient strength, as required. It may be made of wood or metal, or both combined, if necessary.

In Fig. l the frame is made of two side pieces, a a., having brackets a', or are bent upward at or near their rear ends, and in them is journaled a shaft or axle, b, having two cranks, c, connected together by a pin, d.

Upon the platform are pivoted one, two, or more rocking chairs or seats, E, the rockers` E of which are connected at their rear end by a pitman, c, which connects with the pin d ot' the cranks c c. On theA seats of said chairs are placed springs or cushions to obviate the joltin g occasioned in passing over ru gh roads.

At the front ends of the rocking-chairs are arranged handles or levers f, held in place by staples, and said levers serve to assist in imparting therocking motion. If it is not desired to use said handles, they can he removed .from the staples and placed on hooks or in At the rear end the platform is supported on the driving-wheels C, made of any suitable size and shape, as also of iron, wood, steel, or other material, and they are mounted on the above-described crank-axle b. These wheels impart motion to the vehicle or conveyance when the occupants of the rocking-chairs move their bodies to and fro, as in ordinary rocking, and when connected.

A small caster-wheel, m, supports the rear end of the platform when a load is to be carried thereon, and for convenience one or more suitable receptacles or boxes, n, may be secured to said platform. The caster or pivot wheel serves for the purpose of preventing tilting when the occupants have left their seats. Receptacles of proper size may be also arranged under the rocking-chairs, it desired.

Instead of one steering-wheel at the front end, two may be employed,if desired, and they may be operated by any suitable steering mechanism.

It' desired, the driving-wheels and steeringwheel could be reversed-i. e., the former arranged at the front end ot' the platform and the latter at the rear end thereof.

The receptacles may be made detachable or permanent, and, especially on larger vehicles, a roof or covering may be attached to shield the occupants of the rocking-chairs against the heat and inclemencies of the weather.

These conveyances or vehicles can be made of any'size and shape desired, to suit different purposes, both for pleasure and amusement, as well as for businessand purposes of traffic,

IOO

and can be employed for mail-wagons, milk or market wagons, and for any purpose whatever. They are well adapted as a tricycle or carriage for children, and especially for girls or ladies. They can be made as shown in Fig. 3, in which case the rear extended end of the platform, as well as the box or receptacle, and also the caster or pivot wheel are dispensed with. They are less dangerous and not so liable to upset as the ordinary tricycle.

It desired, these vehicles can be made very ornamental and showy or very plain, and by increasing the size of the driving-wheels and cranks on the axle they can be made to travel at a very high rate of speed. They are not liable to get out of order, and are always ready for use and without much preparation.

Instead of employing one setof cranks on the axle b and one pitman e, two such sets of operating mechanism may be employed. The pitmen are then connectedv to the rear ends of the rockers, instead of being connected to the rung between the rockers, as represented in the drawings. The steering mechanism for the small vehicles or tricycles can also be ot' the ordinary kind now used.

The brackets o, to which the rockers are pivoted, are provided with suitable slots to allow for the movement of the rockers, which is very important.

In Fig. 4 the rockingchairs are connected by the pitman e to a crank or cranks on a counter-shaft, 1)',journaledon suitable brackets,p, secured to the platform. On the counter-shaft is secured a gear-wheel, q, which meshes into a pinion, g', on the axle b, and according to the diiference in size of the gearwheels the speed of the driving-axle can be regulated or increased.

In Fig. 5 the platform is elevated and the axle b arranged below it, andthe crank ofsaid axle b connected by pitman e to the rockers, and in this instance the movement is downward instead of upward.

In Fig. 6 the rockers are connected bypitman e to one e'iid of a walking beam, r, supported on a suitable column or stand, s, While the other end is connected by a link or pitman, t, to the crank-axle b, upon which the driving-wheels are mounted.

In Fig. l springs u are secured to the platform A, under the ends of the rockers, to prevent them sticking on the dead-centers and to assist in carrying them overvsaid centers.

Vhen two or more rocking-chairs are to be use'd the platform is extended, and the chairs are then connected by side rods or levers, made adjustable and extending from one to the other ot' said chairs.

Instead ofusing two driving-wheels, one may be employed at the front or rear end, and two steering-wheels. The connectingrods or rock-- springs u. The bracket o is also slotted, -although it is not necessary, as the rockers can be arranged to work in a journal or on a pivot. The pitman e can be connected to the crank, as described above.

Having-thus described my invention,what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

I. The combination, in a vehicle, of a platform, A, supported on drivin g-Wheels C, mounted on a crankaxle, b,and having a casterwheel, m, arranged at the rear end, and provided with a steering wheel, B, at the front end, with one or more rocking-chairs, E, having rockers E', connected to cranked axle b by pitmen e, all substantially as specified.

2. The combination, in a vehicle, of the platform A, driving-wheels C, and one or more rockin g-chairs having rockers E ,cen trall y pivoted in brackets o, provided with vertical slots, with the steering-wheel B, upright g, and gearing It i, shaft k, and upright Z, all as specified.

3. A vehicle having a platform, A, provided with an elevated crank-axle, b, upon which the driving-wheels C are mounted, in combination with the pitman c, connected to the rockers E', centrally pivoted in slotted bearings o, the springs u,and a steering-wheel, B, as set forth.

4. In a vehicle, the combination of a platform, A, supported on suitable wheels, and one or more rocking-chairs, E, having rockers E', with springs u, for carrying said rockin g-chairs over the dead-centers, substantially as specitied.

5. Ina vehicle, the combination of a platform, A, supported on wheels, and the crankaxle b, connected to the rockers E by pitmen e,

.which receive motion by means of occupants of the rocking-chairs E, and are assisted over lthe dead-centers by springs u, arranged as shown.

6. The combination of a platform, A, provided with elevated bearings for the crankaxle b, upon which the driving-wheels G are mounted, with the pivoted rocking-chairs E, the pitmen e, connected to the rockers E', the slotted bracket-s o,the springs u, and a steering-wheel, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses. l

DAVID E. DU'IROW..

Witnesses LoUIs PRINCE, LLOYD F. KELEHER.

IIO

IIS 

